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State Senator, 17th District

Full term commencing 1/1/2027

Vote for
1
Term
4 years
Candidates
2
Election
Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A state senator is one of 33 members of the Ohio Senate, which writes and votes on state laws and the state budget and confirms many of the Governor's appointments.

Covers all of Fayette, Gallia, Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross and Vinton counties, and part of Perry County (Bearfield, Coal, Monday Creek, Monroe, Pike, Pleasant and Salt Lick townships).

Brian A. Deer

Democratic

Retired law enforcement officer · Ironton

The gist

  • Supports funding schools through the Fair School Funding Plan.
  • Supports protecting Medicare and Medicaid funding.
  • Supports expanding collective bargaining rights.
  • Supports small stores getting vendor prices closer to big chains'.
More about Brian
View sources (1)
  1. Supports funding schools through the Fair School Funding Plan.

    Brian Deer - Ballotpedia (Candidate Connection survey)

    Candidate questionnaire · Ballotpedia · Key messages · ballotpedia.org

    “Ohio public school funding needs to be protected and funded by the Fair School Funding Plan.”
  2. Supports protecting Medicare and Medicaid funding.

    Brian Deer - Ballotpedia (Candidate Connection survey)

    Candidate questionnaire · Ballotpedia · Key messages · ballotpedia.org

    “Medicare and medicaid funding has to be protected”
  3. Supports expanding collective bargaining rights.

    Brian Deer - Ballotpedia (Candidate Connection survey)

    Candidate questionnaire · Ballotpedia · Policy passions · ballotpedia.org

    “expanding collective bargaining and protecting the exsisting collective bargaining providers”
  4. Supports small stores getting vendor prices closer to big chains'.

    Brian Deer - Ballotpedia (Candidate Connection survey)

    Candidate questionnaire · Ballotpedia · Key messages · ballotpedia.org

    “Mom and pop stores have to have the ability to buy from their vendors at a closer price”
Photo of Shane Wilkin
Shane WilkinOfficial portrait — Ohio Senate

Shane Wilkin

RepublicanIncumbent

State senator · Hillsboro

The gist

  • Sponsored a bill regulating intoxicating hemp products.In office
  • Sponsored equal cash and card prices for school sports tickets.In office
  • Voted to override the veto of House Bill 68.In office
  • Opposed the 2023 abortion-rights constitutional amendment (Issue 1).In office
  • Opposed legalizing recreational marijuana in 2023 (Issue 2).In office
  • Introduced a resolution backing Texas's border barriers.In office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Shane
View sources (6)
  1. Sponsored a bill regulating intoxicating hemp products.

    Senate Adopts Wilkin Bill Providing Public Safety Improvements for Hemp Industry

    Government record · Ohio Senate · Apr 30, 2025 · ohiosenate.gov

    “to regulate intoxicating hemp products and authorize the sale of low-dose drinkable cannabinoid products”
  2. Sponsored equal cash and card prices for school sports tickets.

    Senate Passes Bill Equalizing High School Athletic Ticket Prices

    Government record · Ohio Senate · Jun 27, 2024 · ohiosenate.gov

    “I was proud to sponsor Senate Bill 181, which was added to House Bill 147.”
  3. Voted to override the veto of House Bill 68.

    Wilkin Supports House Bill 68

    Government record · Ohio Senate · Jan 24, 2024 · ohiosenate.gov

    “I'm proud to have stood with my Senate colleagues to override the Governor's veto of House Bill 68.”
  4. Opposed the 2023 abortion-rights constitutional amendment (Issue 1).

    Wilkin Votes to Protect Women and Babies

    Government record · Ohio Senate · Oct 11, 2023 · ohiosenate.gov

    “strongly supports Senate Resolution 215, which expresses the chamber's opposition to Issue 1”
  5. Opposed legalizing recreational marijuana in 2023 (Issue 2).

    Wilkin Opposes Drug Cartel Putting Profits Over People

    Government record · Ohio Senate · Oct 11, 2023 · ohiosenate.gov

    “legalizing this drug will make our addiction crisis worse”
  6. Introduced a resolution backing Texas's border barriers.

    Wilkin Resolution Expresses Ohio's Support for Texas Securing Its Border

    Government record · Ohio Senate · Jan 30, 2024 · ohiosenate.gov

    “announced the introduction of Senate Resolution 273, which shows Ohio stands in support of Texas as the state combats illegal immigration”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 5 issues covered in this race.